GIRLS MAC BASKETBALL Canfield rolls over Salem, 45-22

The Cardinals held Salem to just 28 percent shooting and 25 turnovers. By CHUCK HOUSTEAU VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT SALEM -- Canfield High girls basketball coach Pat Pavlansky came out of the locker room following his team's 45-22 victory over Salem with a smile on his face. "I saw a totally different team from the other night [against Boardman]," Pavlansky said. "I saw a team that played very good basketball on both ends of the court. "Everyone's back on the train and hopefully were back on the right track." Senior Erin Martin scored 17 points and junior Kelly Williams added 12 while Canfield's tenacious defense limited the Quakers to just 28 percent shooting from the field (11-for-38) and 25 turnovers. Tough stretch: The effort was worth more than just a smile to Pavlansky, whose team was coming off a tough stretch in the schedule which resulted in losses to three of the top programs in the area -- Boardman, Poland and Ursuline. "We schedule those types of teams because we don't really care what our record is," Pavlansky said. "We try to prepare ourselves to win this league [Metro Athletic Conference] and to get ready for the tournament. "Those games prepare us for tough league games like this," Pavlansky said. "[Salem] isn't an easy place to come into and play." Canfield controlled the contest from the second quarter to the final buzzer. After a close start, the Cardinals turned a close 11-10 lead into a 31-12 lead midway through the third. "We played great defense," Pavlansky said. "We had a lot of players that played well together. That's the big difference tonight." Canfield out-scored Salem 27-12 in the second half. Quakers disappointed: For a young Quaker team, facing the Cardinals was their big game and coach Steve Stewart was disappointed with the effort. "We didn't execute offensively," Stewart said. "They're a good defensive basketball team, but when we did get good looks at the basket we didn't finish." Stewart, who starts four sophomores and a junior and whose leading scorer in the game was freshman Sarah Hamilton with six points, said his team needs to learn to play with the big teams. "A game like this will make our girls decide if they want to step up to the next level or not," Stewart said. "You work all summer to be able to play in big games so we need to show up in big games." Salem out-rebounded Canfield 34-25.